MALIBU, Calif. - A sixth-inning comeback wasn't enough as the Pepperdine baseball team (3-13) dropped its series-opener, 7-6, to UMass Lowell (5-7) at Eddy D. Field Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

"I was really pleased with our ability to come back twice today," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre. "Looking ahead, I would like to see us offensively come out ready to go from pitch one tomorrow. On the mound, Casey Euper battled out there without his best stuff. His pitch count climbed and climbed and I give a lot of credit to UMass-Lowell. They did a great job of maximizing their opportunities and taking advantage of our mistakes at times."
 
The River Hawks opened the scoring with a three-run third inning, capped by a Cal Chance RBI single, putting UMass Lowell up by a field goal. The Waves would respond a couple of innings later in the bottom of the fourth, when Trey Dunn launched a pitch that went just over the outstretched arm of River Hawks center fielder Hector Gonzalez. Dunn's two-run dinger pulled the Waves within one, down 3-2, a score that lasted through the fifth.
 
Both squads would put up a four-spot in the sixth frame. Sean O'Leary started the scoring party with a RBI single before Nicholas Solorzano worked a full-count bases-loaded walk. Scott Donahue lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Carlos Martinez, and Joseph DeLanzo finished the top half with a fielder's choice hit deep enough to first base, scoring Martinez to go up 7-2 on the Waves.

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Just as it looked like UMass Lowell would run away with the contest, Pepperdine rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the frame, all coming with two outs. Zach Woodson started the comeback by walking on five pitches to reach base. Dunn followed with a single before Max Aude smashed a three-run homer, pulling Pepperdine back within two. Kai Laxa ensued with a home run on the first pitch of his plate appearance, and within moments the Waves were down just a run, 7-6, with three innings to play yet.

"Max Aude, Trey Dunn, and Kai Laxa had big swings to get us back into the game," continued LaTorre. "To have the winning run on base in the ninth inning is always a plus. We are looking forward to evening the series tomorrow."
 
The rally would ultimately come up just short, as both bullpens put up donuts in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Pepperdine had a threat going in the bottom of the ninth, as Julian Nunez was beaned before Daniel Patterson roped a single to right field. With the tying run in scoring position, Finley Buckner struck out and recent hero Danny Cook, who walked off Michigan last Friday, grounded out, and the contest ended with Pepperdine falling 7-6.
 
GAME NOTES

• Patterson, Aude, and Dunn each had two hits for the Waves.
• The seven through nine spots in Pepperdine's order (Dunn, Aude, Laxa) combined to go 4-for-12 with six RBI and four runs scored.
• UMass Lowell stranded a baker's dozen on the basepaths, while Pepperdine left seven aboard.
• After a tough outing at Cal Poly on Tuesday, freshman left-hander Jack Fowler responded well by firing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
• Nearly half of the outs recorded were flyouts (26 out of 54).

ABOUT PEPPERDINE BASEBALL
Pepperdine baseball has one of the richest traditions and success stories among mid-major baseball programs in the country. The Waves won the NCAA National Championship in 1992 and have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in total. Located in scenic Malibu, California, Eddy D. Field Stadium boasts one of the most remarkable views in college baseball and has seen 35 former Waves reach the MLB while seeing 41 All-American selections.
 
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